A LORRY driver was beaten and badly shaken in a horrific two-hour hijack and kidnap ordeal on Thursday.

Police say the Lithuanian trucker was asleep in the cab of his Island Cosmetics lorry parked in a lay-by at Willa-ston between the Peacock pub and the Sainsbury round-abouts.

Between 2.45 and 3.30am his passenger-side window was smashed by a man who climbed inside.

The victim jumped out of the driver's side door but was struck from behind on the head and fell to the ground in the middle of the road.

He was kicked and punched in the road before being forced to stand up and pushed into the boot of the attacker's car.

Approximately two hours later he was abandoned in the Worsley area of Manchester in shock with cuts and bruises to his face.

Detective Constable Martin Cauldwell, who is investigating the incident, said: '£50,000 of cosmetics products, mainly tanning lotion, was stolen from the trailer which was later discovered on Friday in the Bickerston area of Lancashire. Police have carried out forensic investigations .'

Meanwhile, fire crews at Bryn near Wigan, fought for an hour and a half to put out the lorry's burning Volvo cab which had been dumped down a dirt track besides the Landgate Industrial Estate.

DC Cauldwell added: 'We are working to trace up to three offenders. These are clearly professional and organised criminals who have probably done it before.

'We are appealing to anyone with any information, who may have seen anything that could help us with our inquiries, to get in contact.'

* Anyone with any information should contact either DC Cauldwell on 01244 615395 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.